Fountain of the Minnesinger of Montfort, Bregenz

The Fountain of the Minnesinger of Montfort, also known as the Montfortbrunnen, honours Hugo von Montfort, a nobleman and poet of the Montfort family. The Counts of Montfort shaped the medieval history of the Lake Constance region, and their name remains part of local heritage. Hugo, who lived from 1357 to 1423, was a late Minnesinger whose autobiographical and moral poems survive in the Codex Palatinus Germanicus 329, with melodies attributed to his companion Burk Mangolt.

The fountain was created by sculptor Hans Tröger and inaugurated in 1955. The figure is slender and elongated, recalling the Gothic style of the 14th century. Hugo is shown with a sword, referring to his role as a knight, and with a scroll or musical reference that points to his literary work. The design evokes the Middle Ages while reflecting the post-war period in which the monument was made.

Water surrounds the base of the sculpture, adding movement and drawing attention to its details. Located between the historic upper quarter and the modern city area, the fountain connects medieval literary culture with present-day public space and keeps the Montfort name visible in regional identity.